How to Add a Border to a Picture in Microsoft Word

To add a border to a picture in Microsoft Word, click the picture, go to the Picture Format tab, and click Picture Border. Choose a color, then use Weight to set the thickness and Dashes for a dotted or dashed line. For a ready-made frame, pick one of the Picture Styles on the same tab, such as Simple Frame or Thick Matte.

These steps work in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, 2019, and 2016, on Windows and Mac. Here’s how to customize the border, add a frame with spacing, and remove it.

How to add a picture border

1. Click the picture to select it.
2. Click the Picture Format tab. (In older versions, it’s called Format under Picture Tools.)
3. Click Picture Border and choose a color. Click More Outline Colors for a custom color.
4. Click Picture Border > Weight and choose a thickness, like 3 pt or 6 pt.
5. Optionally, click Picture Border > Dashes for a dotted or dashed border, or Sketched for a hand-drawn look.

Use a Picture Style for a quick frame

On the Picture Format tab, hover over the thumbnails in the Picture Styles group to preview them, then click one. Click the small arrow at the bottom-right of the gallery to see all styles, including frames with shadows, rounded corners, and tilted snapshots. You can still change the border color afterward with Picture Border.

Fine-tune the border

1. Right-click the picture and choose Format Picture.
2. Click the Fill & Line icon (the paint bucket) and expand Line.
3. Choose Solid line or Gradient line, then set the Color, Transparency, Width, Compound type (double or triple lines), and Dash type.

Add a frame with space around the picture

A picture border hugs the edge of the image. For a matted look with white space between the picture and the frame:

1. Click Insert > Table and insert a 1×1 table.
2. Click inside the cell and insert your picture with Insert > Pictures.
3. Right-click the table and choose Table Properties > Options, then set cell margins, like 0.2″ on each side.
4. Use Table Design > Borders to style the frame.

How to remove a picture border

Select the picture and click Picture Format > Picture Border > No Outline. If the border came from a Picture Style, click Reset Picture in the Adjust group (this also removes other formatting, like cropping adjustments and color changes).

Add a border in Word for the web

Select the picture, click the Picture tab, and choose a Picture Style. Word for the web has fewer border options than the desktop app, so for a specific color or thickness, open the file in the desktop app with Editing > Open in Desktop App.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Picture Border grayed out?

The picture might be part of a SmartArt graphic, or the document is open in Compatibility Mode. Click File > Info > Convert to update the document.

Can I add a border to all pictures at once?

Not with one click. Format one picture, then select it and use Format Painter on the Home tab to copy the border to others.

How do I add a border to the whole page instead?

Go to Design > Page Borders and choose a style on the Page Border tab.

Will the border print?

Yes. Picture borders print and appear in PDFs just like they look on screen.